WRITING PROMPT:

Walking on a bridge, you see someone about to jump off. You try to talk them out of it.

My feet ached a lot.

I should have worn these boots last weekend and not haphazardly shove it in my feet as I found myself racing towards the office. Managed to be there three minutes earlier than my realistic calculation of being three minutes late.

I’m happy that I completed all the stupid files that are required to be finished. Tomorrow would just be a chill day, just lounging in front of my desktop with a cup of brewed coffee at hand. I can already picture my day and while it’s possible that my nagging boss would pop out at the last minute with tasks, I can still feel a sense of zen on those early office hours undisturbed.

Now that I’m trodding back home, I realized how the edges of my feet hurt like it has been stepped on by three elephants all at once even if technically, only one elephant foot can do that on my tiny feet.

“Ouch.”

I stopped and yelped as a stabbing pain shoots down on my right foot. I remember, back when I was trying these bad boys, on how soft the sole and how comfortable I was. Where the hell is that now?

I’m already on the bridge with cars driving fast. It’s already late anyways so traffic is nonexistent. Everyone can do a Fast and Furious montage around the highway and no police would bat an eye. Since they’re all asleep in their comfy bed like a baby around this time.

I took my right boot off and scooched down to the cold pavement on the walking side of the bridge. I took my pink cat printed sock off and saw on the very end of my feet, a large freaking blister that has already popped out. I yelped.

The cold pavement was soothing on the sole of my foot. I wonder if I still have any sort of balm or bandage to cover this tomorrow. I probably don’t have any because I’m an irresponsible adult who don’t stock up on first aid. I decided to just sat down, waiting for the pain to subside.

Then I saw a silhouette. Clad in a long coffee brown trench coat with his curly hair swaying by.

A man holding his dear life on the rails, his whole body angling and about to dive in to the cold deep waters below the bridge. I can hear him sobbing, while his arms outstretched and palms gripped on the rails.

Looks like he’s still having doubts.

In an instant, I forgot the stabbing pain in my feet and managed to walk towards him. My long hair swept by the strong breeze. I should approach this slowly, or else, he might really do a leap of life and death in front of me.

“Hey,” my voice cracked but he heard it. His piercing blue eyes looked at me with a sharp focus.

“Are you trying to stop me?”

“Every citizen who saw a dude trying to do a leap off this bridge would do that without question.”

“So…” He stared back at the waters below. The haunting darkness was all that can be seen from the bridge.

“...are you every citizen?”

“I guess I am. Would you want me to be different otherwise?”

“Nah. All of you are the same.”

“What makes you think of that?” I walked closer and with one hand, pull all my hair into a bun.

“Okay, maybe not.”

“Well, that’s fast retraction.”

“Looks like you’re not from around here anyway. Unless you lived in China Town all your life but you probably don't.”

“You’ve guessed right. I’m too sunkissed to look Chinese anyway. I just started working in your country for about...let’s see...around three weeks now.”

He leaned onto the railings now but still tightly gripping.

“Why do you choose this god forsaken country?”

“Actually, I didn’t. The job chose me and it just so happened that it’s here.”

“There’s no future here for anyone.”

“How come?”

“Everyone is going to try and push people out of their way for their own benefit. They’ll just use you until you’re no longer usable.”

“That’s true. Because life’s a bitch, isn't it?”

He laughed. A sarcastic one. “It’s a beautiful bitch.”

“And you basically wanted to end this beautiful bitch, isn’t it?”

“I’m done romancing her. It’s time to go.”

“Because it’s no longer that beautiful, isn’t it?”

He looked at me again. His lips upturned into a weak smile. He’s still young. Probably around his early twenties. Looks like he won the genetic lottery of being good looking yet his face was stricken with sadness.

“Are you trying to change my mind?”

“Am I trying to change my mind? Dude, legit, I have no idea.”

There’s confusion on his face.

“I mean, my feet hurts a fucking lot. I’m deadbeat from work. I just want to go home but I saw you there and I’m like, there’s no way in hell that he’s just admiring the rivers below.”

He laughed once more. This time, without the sarcasm from a while ago.

“You’re something aren’t you?”

“And you’re something too, going full on SpiderMan on the bridge. You’ve got guts, gotta give you that.”

“Maybe that’s all that’s left of me. The guts to take my life.”

“Look, I will regret not saving your life tonight. But it isn’t mine to save.”

Silence.

“Wait, you’re...letting me go?”

“Look, this sounds wack but I don’t know what you’ve been struggling with all your life. You’ve reached your breaking point, or else you won’t even dare do this. You feel like this beautiful bitch isn’t worth romancing, so who the fuck am I to stop you?”

“Huh, that’s unpredictable.”

“Maybe. Or maybe I just learned from deep videos about life on Youtube that we shouldn’t discredit pain. We shouldn’t say ‘you’re going to be fine,’ when you aren’t. Life is a beautiful bitch but so is sadness.”

“I think sadness is more like a draining douchebag.”

“Urgh, douchebags are the worst.”

“We’re still talking about sadness right?”

“Yeah. And douchebags.”

Another laugh.

“There are deep videos on Youtube?”

“Of course. I mean, that’s how I learned to cook. That and deep videos, yep.”

“I rarely even watch Youtube.”

“See, that’s why you’re missing out on good content. If you jump now, you’ll miss more.”

“Am I now?”

“You play video games?”

“I do.”

“Good. Now if you go do your game over move, you won’t play the sequels to any games that are bound to have sequels. Plus the new gen of consoles are coming out. You’ll miss that out big time.”

“Looks like it.”

“You’ll miss new releases from your favorite bands or artists. You’ll miss the...what’s your favorite drink?”

“Beer.”

“You’ll miss the taste of it man. You’ll miss imagining about killing your ...who's one person you despise of?”

“My boss?”

“You’ll miss imagining killing your boss on a daily basis. You’ll miss any...what’s your go-to Netflix series?”

“True crime ones.”

“Oh shit, same. You’ll miss new true crime documentaries or series and the taste of popcorn or pizza while you watch.”

“Fuck... pizza. Yeah, that’s a bummer.”

“Do you have a pet?”

“I do. A dog named Chewy.”

“Well, he’ll miss you. And probably be the next Hachiko, waiting for you everyday, anticipating your return.”

“Ahhh….fuck.”

“Then again, as I said, it’s your life. You’re the only one who can save it.”

He smiled at me. Then silence. I don’t know what to say anymore.

“Thank you.”

“For? I didn’t do anything.”

“No, you did the right thing.”

His arms outstretched again, his body towards the river.

I heard his loud sigh and I knew that at this very moment, I’m going to witness someone taking their own life. Fuck, this sucks. But, is it really meant for me to save him?

In my head, I said a thousand sorry. For all of his friends he had beers with, his family who won’t see him in their Thanksgiving, his colleagues whom he butt heads in the common area and probably to whomever his partner is or was.

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t bear it. Tears flowing but I stifled my cry, covering my face with my hands. The cold seeping through my naked blistered foot.

I waited for that long drop sound, a loud splash, an indication that his body met the waters down below. An indication that he finally accomplished what he ought to do in this fateful day.

I suck at negotiating. This is it.

One…

Two…

Three…

How long has it been? Feels like an eternity.

I didn’t hear a thing.

Or maybe, I missed it.

Instead, I heard the clunk of footsteps towards me and a pair of hands on my shoulders. I uncovered my face and looked at whoever is right in front of me.

“You’re missing one boot.” He said, looking down at my foot.

I’m still surprised that he’s still there, breathing with life and standing inches away from me. His warmth, his blue eyes, his whole existence. It’s still intact. I did the unthinkable and hugged him tight.

“Yeah, my feet ached a lot.”

He hugged me back.

#romance #youngadult #saving #bridges #prompts #lovestories #relationships

I crave every morning

To see your face before I'll drown into the sea of people driven with chaos.

I long to feel your skin next to me

And be enveloped with your warmth.

I hoped to kiss your lips once more

Be lost in the ardent taste of it

But all I can do is to count the days once more

Waiting for the year to be over

So I can see you again

And while we're together,

the clock ticks like a timebomb

Too fast

Too short

We'll bid goodbye once more

And we'll start the math of waiting

And I'll start craving every morning,

To see your face before I'll drown into the sea of people driven with chaos.

#ldr #love #quickpoems #poems

I'm supposed to doze off.

Yet the dark skies sprinkled with stars told me not to.

The caffeinated bloodstream pumps with agitation.

Every tick of the clock

Is a vibrant recollection

Of memories strung while

waiting for the rest to hit the sheets

I came alive with pulsating thoughts

Enveloped with the cooling breeze

I recount the times that

I was able to see the rays

But then I knew

Ill always trade it

To stare at my grey walls

Chipping paint

Counting the hours before

The sun hits again

A vicious cycle

Of brewing audacity to

Stir my mug of cold coffee

While arguing with myself

That I'm supposed to doze off.